F1 | Bottas: “Cadillac is a unique opportunity. The success will come”
After stepping back to take on the role of reserve driver for Mercedes this season, Valtteri Bottas has achieved the goal he had set for himself: returning to Formula 1 in 2026. The Finnish driver will be on the grid to lead the debut of Cadillac’s brand-new F1 team, alongside Sergio Perez. For Bottas, this represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance — the opportunity to help build a project from scratch, with the aim of growing steadily and ultimately fighting for real results.
Following a one-year absence from racing after leaving Sauber at the end of 2024, Bottas will make his comeback to the sport next year when the Cadillac Formula 1 team makes its debut under the new technical regulations. The American manufacturer enters the championship with a clean slate, bringing fresh ambition and significant investment to the grid.
For Bottas, who returned to Mercedes in 2025 as a reserve to stay connected with the paddock and keep himself race-ready, this is the perfect chance to extend his career by committing to an ambitious new project. It is not just a continuation of his Formula 1 journey, but a chance to leave a legacy as part of a start-up team aiming to rise through the ranks.
Cadillac’s strategy: experience first
One of the key reasons Cadillac chose Bottas and Sergio Perez is their combined experience at the highest level. Both have driven for top teams capable of winning world championships — Bottas with Mercedes and Perez with Red Bull Racing — and they bring with them invaluable knowledge of how successful organisations operate. Rather than gambling on a young prospect or an American rookie, Cadillac opted for a solid and proven driver pairing, hoping to lay strong foundations for the long term.
Bottas himself confirmed that discussions with Cadillac began well before the project was made official: “The first conversations I had with Graeme Lawdon [Cadillac’s Team Principal] about this opportunity were around two years ago. He always kept me informed about how things were going and how the project was progressing.”
The Finn admitted that by the start of this year, he was fully convinced: “It became clear to me that this is what I wanted. I want to be part of this iconic brand, of this new ‘start-up’ Formula 1 team that nonetheless has strong infrastructure and ambitious goals. I’m here to give everything I have to the team. With Perez, I’m confident we can guide Cadillac in the right direction.”
Building for the long term
Cadillac will enter its first season in 2026 with a technical package supplied entirely by Ferrari, including the power unit, gearbox, and rear suspension. Expectations are therefore realistic: neither the team nor the drivers are anticipating miracles or immediate podiums. Instead, the focus is on laying a solid foundation during the first few years before aiming higher in the future.
At present, the team is still recruiting engineers and staff, both to strengthen its technical expertise and simply to expand its numbers, as the official confirmation of Cadillac’s F1 entry only came earlier this year. There is also ongoing work to bring facilities up to par with established teams that have heavily invested in recent years.
Bottas is fully aware of the challenge: “Naturally, we are realistic. There’s going to be a mountain of work to do, and the beginning will probably be tough, because this is Formula 1. But we are not here just to make up the numbers. We don’t want to finish at the back.”
He added with optimism: “With this structure, with these people, I see no reason why we cannot close the gap to other teams relatively quickly and start enjoying some success. Checo and I have several years ahead of us together, and the goal is to share those moments of success once we reach them.”
A familiar challenge for Bottas
Joining a completely new project also means aligning personal ambitions with team priorities. Bottas has already experienced something similar when he left Mercedes at the end of 2021 to join Alfa Romeo (Sauber): “For me, it feels a little bit like when I moved from Mercedes-Benz to Alfa Romeo. I had to reset my goals.”
He continued: “I’ve already been through that mental process. For this new challenge, after many conversations with Graeme, it was always clear to me that it would not be an easy road. The first year will probably be tough — I know what to expect. Mentally, if you prepare for the worst, anything better becomes a positive and satisfying outcome.”
“For me, once again, it’s about being involved and getting my hands dirty with the team. When progress and results come, that will be the reward. It’s all about managing expectations and putting in the hard work. The satisfaction will come — and that’s exactly what excites me and why I am here.”
Cadillac’s unique entry compared to Audi
While Cadillac will not be the only newcomer to Formula 1 in 2026 — with Audi also joining officially — the American manufacturer is unique in building its operation from the ground up. Unlike Audi, which acquired Sauber to establish its entry, Cadillac has no existing structure to rely on. This makes its project particularly ambitious but also especially exciting for the drivers involved.
Bottas highlighted this difference: “For me, together with Checo, this really is a unique opportunity. In the history of Formula 1, not many drivers have been part of a completely new team with such a strong structure and level of support. It’s something very exciting.”
Bottas balancing Cadillac and Mercedes
At present, Bottas remains under contract with Mercedes in his reserve role, meaning he could step in for George Russell or Andrea Kimi Antonelli if either of them had to miss a Grand Prix. He also serves as a reserve for McLaren and has been able to take part in some testing, ensuring he stays sharp behind the wheel.
“I am still contracted with Mercedes and will continue to be present at every race weekend as a reserve driver. Of course, this limits the time I have available, but I will also be involved in key decisions with Cadillac before testing begins,” Bottas explained, adding that Mercedes has always supported his talks with Cadillac.
He concluded: “One of the most important things for me is to keep driving a little, to stay fit and race-ready. That’s why going back to Mercedes as a reserve was a really important decision for my career — and the right one. It all came together perfectly, because I knew my number one priority was to keep racing in Formula 1.”
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